Mont-Ventoux Half-Marathon Kookabarra 2026
- Next event : Sun, July 5, 2026Date confirmed
- Last event : Sun, July 6, 2025
The event in a few words
This Provençal saying sets the tone, doesn't it? 🧐 Will you dare to come (or return) to tackle the slopes of the Giant of Provence? 🦶Like a solitary mountain, it stands there in the heart ❤️ of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur ☀️, in the Vaucluse. This legendary, even mythical summit is highly appreciated by cyclists for its challenge, and it awaits you for the Mont-Ventoux Half-Marathon Kookabarra ! 🏔
Are your legs tingling? 🦵 Then let's speak clearly! One single distance 👆, and not just any, on the program: 21.6 km and 1,610 mD+ 📈. It's a grueling ascent awaiting you, with average slopes at 7.5% and up to 11.5% 😮. You will have very little respite. You must have a strong heart ❤️🩹for a well-deserved finish! Moreover, we'll be in the middle of July, so it'll be really hot! 🥵 Don't forget to bring water and energy bars to avoid a hunger pang 🤒. But no regrets, because at the finish 🏁, there awaits you a breathtaking view and a chilled beer, even if you'll consume it in moderation! 🫵
Be careful ⚠️ to keep your feet on the ground, as the wind doesn't play around there: winds have been recorded at over 320 km/h! 🌬️And in 2016, the finish of Stage 12 of the Tour de France 🚴 had to be moved to 6 km from the summit due to powerful gusts! It blows you away 💆, a bit like a Christopher Froome acceleration! 😂 It's no wonder there's no greenery here, our good old Ventoux being totally bare of vegetation recolors it as the "Bald Mountain". Since you surely don't want to end up with the same nickname, think of your headgear 🧢 (especially your windbreaker) before you arrive, a cold catches easily 🤧. Above all, enjoy the natural scenery around you, here you have the chance to run in the midst of a Biosphere Reserve 🌿, designated by the UNESCO in 1990! Quite a privilege, don't you think 😄.
But the Vaucluse is also a typical Provençal department! 🌷Visit the little stone villages that will make you crazy 🤪 for its beauty. Le Baroux, Malaucène, or Buis-les-Baronnies, these villages are full of stone houses 🪨, with magnificent alleys surrounded by lavender fields 💜. The Roman bridge of Vaison-la-Romaine 🌉 does it ring a bell? Yes, located only 30 minutes from Mont-Ventoux, this city is known for its sublime atmosphere, but also for its colossal flood of 1992. With a river rise of over 17 meters high 🤯, it's a site not to miss! Aspeta! We forgot to talk about food🍴. In the South during summer, it's a feast for the eyes and palate 😍: check out the colors of la bohémienne, a true delicious rainbow 🤤. And even if it's not quite the season, a real homemade pistou soup 🍜 (not pesto 🤌) is impossible to decline! For a sweet note, Mont-Ventoux has its specialty! The Ventoulet, a little travel cake 🍰, with apricots and honey 🍯 perfect for a race snack! Otherwise, nothing beats a good Cavaillon melon 🍈 or some oreillettes, a delicious biscuit, bringing back childhood memories 🎀. You have plenty to enjoy after a colossal effort.
I hope your gear is ready, and your legs are sharp 🏃♀️, because the summit awaits you!
4 reasons to join this race
The message from the organizer Bertrand Delhomme:
Great surprises await, with a high-profile elite field, many activities in our partner village. The celebration promises to be wonderful, and we can't wait to see you there with the FINISHERS team, who will be present on site!"
The distance you'll all agree on
21.6 kmTOP
- Sunday, July 5, 2026
- Elevation gain : 1610mD+
- 1,000+ runners in the last edition
- 1 loopx21.6 km
A few more words
The start is in Bédoin, a charming village at the foot of Mont Ventoux, which itself is located at 1,912 m altitude. On the first part of the route (6 km with an average gradient of 4.5%), you will pass through the larch 🌳 forests that cover the lower part of the mountain up to the village of Saint-Estève. Cedars and firs 🌲 provide pleasant shade from the sun; perfect for a gradual warm-up 😉. Then you'll tackle the second part, the most challenging, up to Chalet Reynard with its average gradients of 9.4% 😅. Finally, you will be there: the last part, with its 6.5 km at 8%... A difficult and gradual section for a triumphant finish at the summit! 🙌
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
You can pick up your race bib starting Saturday, July 4, 2026, from 12 PM to 7 PM at the school courtyard in Bédoin (2 place de la République, 84410, Bédoin) and on Sunday, July 5, 2026, from 6 AM to 7:30 AM.
The Mont-Ventoux Half Marathon will start at 8 AM on Sunday, July 5, 2026.
The race time limit is set at 3 hours and 40 minutes. Beyond this, runners will not be officially ranked. Specific time checkpoints will be announced on the race day depending on local authority permissions.
Additionally, there's a time limit at Chalet Reynard (15 km) for safety reasons. Participants have 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach this refreshment point. The organization will remove the bib of any participant not reaching this point on time and will not be responsible for those who choose to continue.
This year, if you're unable to participate, you can sell your bib to someone else via the official, secure platform. Once the transaction is confirmed, the original participant will receive a 95% refund of the entry fee, excluding reservation fees. After this, they will no longer be considered registered and cannot participate in the event.
The bib resale platform is currently open and will close on July 3, 2026, at 12 PM. No refunds will be possible after this date.
There are four refreshment stations along the course:
km 6: Drinks
km 11: Drinks and snacks
km 15 (Chalet Reynard): Drinks and snacks
km 18: Drinks
Finish line: Drinks and snacks (+ one complimentary beer per participant)
You can drop off your belongings on Saturday, July 4, during bib pickup or on Sunday, July 5, at least 1 hour before the race start.
Bags can be collected at the finish line in the designated area upon presenting your bib.
Each participant will receive a race kit upon bib pickup and a finisher's medal after crossing the finish line.
Return buses are available for 5€ (not included in the race registration fee), and you must show the bracelet given at bib pickup to board. It's essential to reserve your spot on the bus in advance.
These buses will take runners back to Bédoin, departing from the summit only when full and in alignment with the progression of the race.
The entry fee is 45€, plus a 2€ registration management fee.
You can also opt to purchase a return shuttle to Bédoin for an additional 5€.
The race takes place in July, so be prepared for hot weather. However, once you reach the summit of Mont Ventoux, it can be windy. It's advisable to have a windbreaker with you.
There are many accommodation options available, but it's advisable to book in advance due to high demand during this period. You can find a list of nearby accommodations by clicking here.
No, a medical certificate is no longer required to participate.
The new PPS (Preventive Health Course) attestation available here replaces it. This FFA preventive health course must be completed within 3 months prior to the event (from April 5, 2026), and its number must be entered during registration.
FFA members must provide their 2025-2026 Athletics License number.
For more information on the Preventive Health Course (PPS), we recommend this article.
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